Please help me with my budgetting

welshsarah1

Hudson1984 wrote: »

I, personally would start there - bare in mind this is a personal view and may not be suitable for you!

I find it much easier to budget when all bills come out on pay day or 1st of the month. I then know that everything is paid and any money left is mine to do what I want with be it spend on fuel, put in savings or whatever - nothing worse than not knowing where you are at any given point in the month.

again, personally I found that knowing what is coming out and when made it much easier to decide what to reduce and where savings can be made.

Could I give some companies a ring and ask them to take out the direct debit at the beginning of the month, so I sort of know whats left to spend and anything left at the end of the month is extra savings?x

Hudson1984

yep. they usually want you to wait until you've paid another installment but i've certainly never had an issue moving direct debits around. I changed jobs 2 months ago and went from being paid on 28th - Penultimate working day so had to change ALL mine, no one minded as it was only a couple of days after i'd paid so changed all that day, new payment dates set to 1st of each month

I do exactly the same thing, pay bills at start, spend money in the middle and save at the end.

did this for a few months then thought what can I do to improve my "save" bit - then started looking into it and being as the bills where all on one day my statements from the bank made it easy to assess. Looked down the list and cut some things out. All remaining items throughout the month where then spending so looked at my spending habits and looked at where to make changes there.

but yup direct debit organisation was definitely my starting point

welshsarah1

Hudson1984 wrote: »

yep. they usually want you to wait until you've paid another installment but i've certainly never had an issue moving direct debits around. I changed jobs 2 months ago and went from being paid on 28th - Penultimate working day so had to change ALL mine, no one minded as it was only a couple of days after i'd paid so changed all that day, new payment dates set to 1st of each month

I do exactly the same thing, pay bills at start, spend money in the middle and save at the end.

did this for a few months then thought what can I do to improve my "save" bit - then started looking into it and being as the bills where all on one day my statements from the bank made it easy to assess. Looked down the list and cut some things out. All remaining items throughout the month where then spending so looked at my spending habits and looked at where to make changes there.

but yup direct debit organisation was definitely my starting point

Aww thank you, I am chasing around the contact numbers and going to spend a day ringing around in the morning, if I can get the majority of the debits paid off on or after 28th, that be brill, as the benefits coming in will then be used for petrol, food, saving etc. Another thing, how much do you think its reasonable to save for emergencies?

Hudson1984

welshsarah1 wrote: »

Aww thank you, I am chasing around the contact numbers and going to spend a day ringing around in the morning, if I can get the majority of the debits paid off on or after 28th, that be brill, as the benefits coming in will then be used for petrol, food, saving etc. Another thing, how much do you think its reasonable to save for emergencies?

no probs.

i'll leave that question to someone much more experienced to answer wouldn't like to advise you incorrectly :A

matttye

welshsarah1 wrote: »

Aww thank you, I am chasing around the contact numbers and going to spend a day ringing around in the morning, if I can get the majority of the debits paid off on or after 28th, that be brill, as the benefits coming in will then be used for petrol, food, saving etc. Another thing, how much do you think its reasonable to save for emergencies?

For an emergency fund I'd say preferably enough money to cover three months of the expenses that are usually covered by wages at least - in case of unemployment.

More if one or both of you have cars that might need emergency repairs.

good_advice

Hello welsh sarah, well done on coming on mse and asking for help.
Plenty of good advice...

I am starting with my favorite subject = the fuel bill. You can get this much lower if you are prepared to put the work in. Live in a cooler home. Start by unplugging and turning things off.

Shopping = try not to go into town to often and when you do stick to a list of needs, not wants.

Tv package = I keep saying here! we only need Internet connection. We could just have free view and everyone has a mobile phone. BUT my oh will not have any of it!

Take care...

welshsarah1

Hudson1984 wrote: »

no probs.

i'll leave that question to someone much more experienced to answer wouldn't like to advise you incorrectly :A

Aww thank you, I do appreciate all the good advice you have offered :)X

CharlieRabbit01

welshsarah1 wrote: »

Hi, its my partner who wants love film and netflix he uses them for himself and the kids, (I want to get rid of them). We use love film a lot and rent the latest movies rather than buy them, netflix hardly ever. Sky loads, but not for me for the kids channels, disney and netflix. And I agree, We dont! What is SOA? Can change insurance next Jan and gas and electric I changed over from british gas to fixed price April 2014 Scottish power. No dont keep a spend diary.

I dont think you need sky for the children, not sure on their age but you can get CBBC, CITV and Cbeebies on freeview which run from 6/7am till 6/7pm sot hats 12 hours of cartoons to keep them entertained in the day then movies etc in the evenings.

If you don't want to get rid of the online movies consider cutting down to just 1 movie service. I see no need for 3 options.

welshsarah1

CharlieRabbit01 wrote: »

I dont think you need sky for the children, not sure on their age but CBBC, CITV and Cbeebies run from 6/7am till 6/7pm sot hats 12 hours of cartoons to keep them entertained in the day then movies etc in the evenings.

If you don't want to get rid of the online movies consider cutting down to just 1 movie service. I see no need for 3 options.

Thank you, When my partner gets home Im going to try and convince him to maybe just stick with love film. That will be plenty. We have dvds here for the children, like ben and holly and dora, (they are 3 and 5) so could just put them on rather than using sky. xx

Hudson1984

good_advice wrote: »

Tv package = I keep saying here! we only need Internet connection. We could just have free view and everyone has a mobile phone. BUT my oh will not have any of it! QUOTE]

I did the same removed everything other than freeview and broadband, I have a small desktop PC connected to the TV and watch freeview through windows media, add a wireless keyboard and mouse and you're set - of course if you're aiming to get the OH on board you may need to suggest a new TV, go for a smart TV and you then wouldn't need to add the PC as I do, I was just too cheap to pay extra for the "smart" features